Keyless lock



H. R. SEGAL KEYLESS LOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR K HYMAN R. SEGAL.

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July 16, 1935. H. R. s-EGAL 269,565

KEYLESS LOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Shen?,v 2

IVENTOR 8' f HYMAN RSE-icm.,

www?? w ATT() "Y vent STATESv @PATENT oFFlfacxE KEYLESS` LQCK Hyman R. Segal, New York, N. Y. Application January 27, 1934, Serial. No.A 708,531.7

' 14 Claims. (ol. r1li-11s) This; invention relates to improvements in keyless or permutation type lock mechanisms for use in padlocks and built-in locksy on buildings, filing cabinets, safe` deposit boxes, hand bags, brief 1 cases, and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to pro.- vide a permutation type lock which is smaller and which` lends. itself to greater compactness than those heretofore proposed so that it may be used advantageously on very small articles by being smallerv and lighter in Weight, and better in general appearance than those provided heretofore, but which, despite its smaller general size, will not require smaller operating parts and.` consequently will not inconvenience the operator in the manipulation thereof'.

It is another object off the present invention to provide a permutation type lock with control-V ling elements structurally devised and arranged to be sturdier and consequently less liable to-` breakage and failureA than those heretofore proposed;

A still furtherobject of the present invention is the-provision of a permutation type look having comparatively few and inexpensiveA parts.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a permutation type lock structure in which the parts are maintained in close operating relationship iny final assembly, although made only within ordinary manufacturing limits,

in order to prevent a thief from finding the combination byl trial and sound, as is possible when there is a difference in thecooperatingrelation--l ship or' they various parts.

Yet another object of the present inventionis to provide a keyless or-per1nutation type lock embodying a simple and eifective structure in whichthe combination for opening the lock may be changed readilyv Without the useof a screw driver or other tool.

' One feature of; the present invention is the provision cfa, keyless or permutation type lock mechanism which may be angularly disposed inA a lock casing. Advantages of this angularly dis posed mechanism include the possibility' of using a shifting' member which is greater in length than the-- interior width of thecasing, and yet' movement; thereof mayl be accomplished substantially widthwise inl the casing; v

Another feature is the provision of a keyless type lock mechanism havingy av plurality ofA locky controlling elements so constructedl that the, elementsv still in locking position cooperate to preinding the combination, While other elements are in releasing position.

to completeI the.` lock after the. main operating parts are assembled.

Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. Y

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form ofv the'presn ent invention embodiedV inA a .permutation type padlock.

Fig.. 211s a view similar to Fig. 1*, but shows the cover plate removed, and shows the combination control wheels and frame thereof in sections through the center thereof, with the va rious parts in the shackle loolning position.

Fig. Sis a View like` Fig. 2, but shows the shackle and the lock controlling parts in. the open` or inoperative position. l

lFig 4 is a sectional viewr taken through the lock at a point about half way. of its thickness, onlineYd-ll inFig-..6.

Fig. '5. is an explodedviewf of the spindle and spindle elements.

Fig'. 6 isa sectional view taken on line B-l-in Fig. 3.

Figs 7 through il'showa modifiedfform of the present invention, in a Xed. lock structure,- rather'than the padlock form, and of these:

Fig 7 is a top plan View of the complete lock.

Fig. 8 is a view similar toFig; '7, but shows `the cover. plate removed, and showsthe controlling parts in section substantially through` the center thereof. Y

Fig. Siv is an exploded.' view of the permutation wheel andi spindle parts.

Fig; lil is-.a View similar'to, Fig 8, but shows the various partsin the unlocked position.

Fig. ll isV an oblique cross` section taken` on line H H in Fig. 7.

Fig l2. is af top plan View of the casing for that form of lock shown in Figs. 7 through. 11 with. the main outer part made. in the form of a: die-casting having; integral bearings for the per-` mutation wheel. spindle.

Fig. 13:.is aview. taken online; l=3.-|3:in- Fig. l2.

Fig; 14.' is. a fragmentary View taken on line lll-Mlm4 Fig, l2;

- Referring now` in detail tothe drawings the rst form` ofi-the invention,- disclosedr Figs. 14 through4 6 preferably comprises a lcasing 24" ofv substantially rectangular form including amainbodyY 25 and cover plate` 26` supporting a lockingv member 21 which in this form of the invention is a shackle having a long leg 21 slidably and rotatably mounted in bearings 28 and 28 at one side of the casing, and having a short leg 29 .adapted to enter a locking aperture 29 at the opposite side of the casing.

A spring 39 is provided which has one leg extending down along a side wall 3| of the casing 24, while the other end extends across the casing to enter a suitable slot 30 in the long leg 21 of the shackle to normally urge the shackle upwardly and outwardly of the casing until the short leg is moved out of the locking aperture 29', as shown in Fig. 3. This spring also serves to limit outward movement of the shackle when it engages the underside of the casing top wall, as may be seen best in Fig. 3.

The combination changingand lock controlling mechanism of the present invention which is about to be described is distinctly novel and should therefore be particularly noted. It is simple and economical to manufacture, is sturdy and positive inY its action, Vand lends itself to divers forms of keyless lock constructions. In general, it comprises an interponent 32 in the form of a slide, and a lock conditioning mechanism 33 adapted to control and operate the slide in a novel manner.

The slide 32 is preferably provided with a inger 34 adapted to enter a. cooperating notch 35 in the long leg 21 andthereby hold the locking member 21 in the effective position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, or to release the member and permit itstravel to the ineffective position shown in Fig. 3. i

. The slide 32 is transversely movable within the casing 24, and to this end there is preferably provided cast lugs 35 and 31 in the main body 25 portion of thecasing forming a channel to locate and support the slide. The forward end of the slide is held depthwise of the casing by having the finger 34 of sufficient height to nearly engage the under side of the cover piece 26 while the rear end thereof is held against such movement by the under side of a projection 38 on a support 39 which is afxed to the casing, as by screws 4f). 'Ihis slide is normally urged toward the locking member 21 by a compression spring 4| which en gages the inside face of the wall 3| and pushes against an up-turned ear 42 on the slide at its other end. A slotin the'slide 32 and an undercut43 on the projection 39 provide a channel or housing for the spring.

The lock conditioning mechanism 33 includes the'support 39 having end walls 44 and 45 with bearings 44' and 45 forming a suitable sliding connection for a spindle or shifter 45, and is provided intermediate the end walls with dividing walls 41 and with apertures 48 adapted to accommodate a plurality of permutation wheels 49, which fit snugly but rotatably therein.` A plurality of these apertures and wheels, four in the present showing, are in the one support.

The wheels 49 are provided with indicia on their periphery, and with a bore 50 having a plurality of notches extending from the bore, one aligned with each of the indicia. The bore of each of the wheels isradapted to slide on the periphery, of a wing collar 52 or on the periphery of a plain spacing collar 53, the collars being equal in number to the wheels and being interspersed on the spindle 45. The dividing walls 41 are each provided with a bore 54 adapted to freely accommodate the spacing collars 53 and, due to a single notch 54accommodate thawing collar 52 only when the wing 52 thereon is properly aligned. The spindle enters a suitable bore in each of the collars and permits rotation of the collars thereon.

A knob 55 and finger 56 at the outer end, and an extra spacing collar 53 and ange collar 51 at the inner end serve to limit sliding movement of the spindle in the support 39. A spring 58 urges the spindle to the out position where the wings 52 on each of the collars 52 are in one of the notches 5| in one of the permutation Wheels 49, and spacing collars 53 are in the bores 54 of the dividing walls 41. Thus, too, the spring also urges the finger 56 on the spindle to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, permitting the slide 32 which is associated therewith through a finger 59 to move into position to hold the locking member 21 with the finger 34 in the notch 35.

To open the lock it is merely necessary to push the knob 55 inwardly of the casing 24 if wings 52 on each of the collars 52 are properly aligned with the single notch 54' in each of the dividing walls 4?, whereupon the wings 52 move from the bore 5t of the wheels into the bore 54 of the dividing walls, and the spacing collars 53 move into the bore of the wheels. In this inward movement of the knob and spindle 46, the nger 56 moves upwardly and sidewise in the casing engaging the nger 59 and pushing the slide from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, releasing the finger 34 from the notch 35 and thereby allowing the spring 34 to eject the locking member 21 to the ineffective position.

Small springs 54 adapted to enter suitable notches 5| in the wheels 49 centralize the indicia within slots 23 in order to facilitate setting the combination, and also hold the wheels in the original combination while the wing collars 52 are disconnected from the wheels in the dividing walls 41.

When the knob 55 is released with the locking member 21 in the ineffective position the spindle 4G and wing collars 52 return to the normal position again, and the spring 4i urges the finger 34 against the wall of the member 21. As the locking member is moved into the casing 24 again the finger 34 snaps into the rnotch 35, and thereafter the operator or user spins several of the wheels 49 to dis-align the wings 52 with the notches 54.', and thereby locks the device.

Thereafter, the lock can be opened only by someone who knows the right combination of indicia, for it is necessary to again align the wings 52 with the notches 54 before the lock can be opened. In order to change the combination with the structure provided by the present invention, it is merely necessary to change one or more of the indicia wheels relative to each other while the spindle 45 and wing collars 52 are in the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the wings 52 slide into new notches 5| in the wheels 49 aligned with the new indicia combination. The springs 69 allow the wheels 49 to be willfully turned with comparative ease.

Referring now in detail tothe modified formof the invention shown in Figs 1 through 14, it should be particularly noted, since it discloses the structural and functional advantages of the present invention better than that form heretofore described, providing as it does a lock which is extremely compact and which may be made much smaller than those usually provided. AThis is a particular advantage when the lock is applied to small filing cases, brief cases, hand bags and since it is not'necessaryto outV down on the size of spacing ofthe permutation wheels which the user must manipulate. These manifold advan-A tages are accomplished according to the present invention by a structur'efand arrangement of parts wherein vthe lock 'controllingL mechanism is disposed clibliqu'ely''within 4the casing andtl'iel variousv cooperating parts structurally' designed to cooperate 'tlierewitlif4 The structure comprises a casing 64 including a body shell 65 and acover 65, adapted tobe secured tof the article with which it is to be used by means'of screws or rivets (not shown) while a catch 81 may'be securedto the `iap, slide, cover or other' movable partof `thearticleas by means of bolts'and nuts 61. The catch 61 is provided with a pointed yfinger 68` having a notched aper-v ture [i9 forming a hook 10. AThe cover B6 and body shell'ES are held together as Vby rivets 63.

Within the body shell 85 and, underlying the cover 66 thereof is a slide 'll which'is preferably located and supported for sliding movement by shoulder screws 'l2 secured to the `body shell passing through elongated apertures 'it' in the slide 'll to permit'limited movement of. the latter transversely relative to the` body shell. i

` A coil` spring 'I4 is provided `to normally pull the slide H to the left side of Ithe casing, as Viewed in Fig. 8, in order to move a locking linger l on'the slide into the aperture 69 so` thatrthe hook 1E) portion of the catch 61 is locked relativeto the main casing. This arrangement of parts is such that-the pointed finger S8 on the catch, as it moves from the position shown in Fig. 10` to the position shown in Fig. 8,l engages the left side of the nger and pushes it to the right against the tension of the spring 'Hl` until the catch is fully in place, whereupon the finger jumps into the aperture, back of the hook, to lock the two parts together.y

' A lock c'onditior'iingl and controlling mechanism1 1G of novel construction is provided within the casing Sill tor locking and controlling the slide 1l andr catch 6l." In its present preferred. form, it` o comprises a permutation mechanism which may be of the general type hereinbefore described in conection with the r'st form ofthe invention, and including permutation wheels 49, wingV collars 52 and spacing collars` 53 cooperating with dividing walls 4.1 and wheel apertures 48 upon a modifiedy form of spindle 11 and support 18. e Y' This; forrno spindle 'il is preferably supported on a shifter plate 'lill by connection to up-turned end wallsV 19 Aand 89 at opposite ends. The flat base section'of this Vshifter is spaced to ride upon the bottom of the casingfll while the spindle l1 slides in the support'il. AA spring Bil providedY to normally pull the shifter to the left` as shown in Fig. 8, in which position the `permutation wheelsmay. be rotated to: align the wing collars.

5min the menacing@ walls. 4.1-

l""Ii'iesli'de 'il is'p-rovided with 'an obliquely disposed iingerv 82V associated with the. end Ywall-80 diithe sinftferuasojthat'the slide 1| j'aiid mager` est are moet Dateien.

smeet @ich 5.1. Whenever the. Shifter-'1S moved from the locking Pes. ice She o in Figi0. the@ .l amitiee Shown. in Fg 1,0) brpiiflirigvaiiist .a ma is Qn' a@ dass ad bf a nieuwe@ has@ Utilisation iet-'f1.6 shifter "1.9. alle' Passes througha suitable elongatedslot in the coverV Pia-ie 6t- Thsa .when the permutation Wheels are properlyV set` it is a very simple matter to push the knob gt and'release the catch." When ilshiftel" is bulledlbekl @aan by, the! Spring. SI an the catch 6,1 vis again held in place by the slide; Tl, itis `merely necessaryto the'pe'rmutationwheels in order to lock the article. A As with the 'rst fami 0f' the twenties, a new @embination may be'ma'de by willfully turning the permutation wheelswhen themshjifter isin the.

813l oi' the yoke' travels freelyinto the upper right hand, 4free corner of the casing. Further, thisy volyoli'que arrangement of parts makes possiblethe connection ot the slide II tothe exterior ofthe shifter "i9, and does not necessitate a greater width of the casing in proportion to the width of the nger 82, as would be necessary it the permutation wheelfframe and associated parts were disposed transversely within the casing.

The advantages of this structure will be apparent further, and obviously so, when it is realized that the transverse width of thel casingy may be and in the present showing is narrower than the total width of the shifter 19 exclusive of the additional width which would normally be required in order to permit travel of a transversely located shifter from the effective to the ineiective position.

If` preferred, the` invention may be made, as shown in Figs. 12,'13 and 14, with a casing 64' comprising a` cover 55 made of a die-casting or thelike and` abody 65 of sheet metal, with a snap connection -63' therebetween. Thus the need for holding screws or rivets between the cover and body is obviated. Also, a support TBr for the permutation wheels 49 and associated mechanism may be vcast substantially integral with theA cover 66 thereby lessening the machining, quantity of parts and the cost.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing; a locking member movable in said casing into effective and ineffective positions; a slide associated with said member; a solely reciprocatory shifter vand means including a permutation mechanism adapted to cooperate with said slide and shifter to condition the slide and shifter for coordinate movement at. an angle to each other into effective and ineiective positions to lock the associated4 member in the eiective position, and uponpropersetting adapted to permit movement of said locking member to the ineiective Yposition.

2. In a keyless lock, the combinationvof acasing; a locking memberimovable in said casing into eiective and` ine'ective positions; a slide associated with said member; a solely reciproca tory coupling mechanismcooperating with the slide, forcontrolling and imparting coordinate vmove ment tothe 'slide atan angle to eachother iet@ steers eeslieeffesiiveRosters; @admets including a permutation mechanism cooperating with said coupling mechanism andthe slide to lock the associated member in the effective position, and upon proper setting adapted to permit movement of said locking member to the ineffective position.

3. In a keyless lock, the combination of a substantially rectangular casing; a locking member movable in said casing, into effective and ineiective locking positions, and having a notch; a slide in said frame movable in a plane parallel with the `casing into and out of engagement with the notch in saidlocking member; a permutation mechanism obliquely disposed in said casing; and a shifting member associated with said permutation mechanism obliquely disposed and obliquely movable in said casing and capable of moving said slide through a path at an angle to the movement or travel of the shifting member.

V 4.- In a keyless lock, the combination of a substantially rectangular casing; a locking member movable into effective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a slide movable into and out `of locking engagement with the locking member; and a permutation type controlling mechanism, including a shifting member ofgreater length than the interior Width of said casing, obliquely arranged in lsaid casing and adapted to move said slide angularly relative thereto.

5. In a keyless lock, the combination of a substantially rectangular casing; a locking member, With a notch, movable into eifective and ineifective positions relative to the casing; a slide movable into and Vout of engagement With the notch in said locking member; and a permutation type controlling mechanism, including a shifting member of greater length than the interior width of said casing, obliquely arranged in said casing for substantial Widthwise movement therein and adapted to move said l slide angularly relative thereto out of engagement with the notch in the locking member. l

6. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing of substantially rectangular form; a locking member movable in said casing into eiective and ineiective positions; a slide associated with and adapted to control said locking member; anda solely reciprocatory permutation type controlling mechanism, including a shifting member, ob-

.- liquely arranged in said casing and adapted to move said slide angularly to control ciated locking member.

7. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing of substantially rectangular form; a locking the assomember movable into effective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a slide associated with and adapted to control said locking member; a permutation type controlling mechanism; a shifting member associated with said controlling mechanism, obliquely arranged insaid casing and adapted to move said slide angularly relative thereto to control the associated locking member; and a knob on said shifting member passing through an opening in said shifting casing for manually moving saidmember and associated slide from the effective to the ineifective position upon proper setting of the permutation type controlling mechanism. Y

8. In a permutation lock, the combination of a casing; a locking member, with a notch, movable for said Wheels; a shifting member; a shaft 'on said shifting' member having a sliding bearing in said support; and forming an'axis for said permutation Wheels, said shaft having retracted and advanced positions; and coupling means associated with said permutation Wheels and the support therefor, adapted to permit movement of said shifting member and associated shaft from the retracted to the advanced position only when Vsaid permutation Wheels are in pre-determined positions, for moving the slide out of engagement with the locking member and for permitting movement of the locking member to ineffective position.

9. In a permutation lock, the combination of a casing; a locking member, with a notch, movable into effective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a slide in said casing adapted to enter the notch and hold the locking member in the effective position; permutation wheels each having a plurality of notches in the bore thereof a support having apertures, and dividing Walls each with a single notch adapted to support said Wheels in spaced relation; a shaft; spacing collars on the shaft; lug collars on the shaft; and a shifting member adapted to support said shaft, collars and permutation Wheels, having a normal retracted position wherein the lug collars are in predeterminednotches of the permutation wheels and adapted to be moved to an advanced position upon proper setting of the permutation wheels ltoalign said lug collars with the single notches of the dividing walls, whereupon it moves Vthe slide out of the notch of the locking member and permits movement of the locking member into the ineffective position.

l0. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing of substantially rectangular form; a locking member movable into eifective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a slide associated with and adapted to control the locking member; an angularly disposed nger on said slide; a permutation type controlling mechanism; a shifting member associated with the controlling mechanism, obliquely arranged in said casing and having an angularly disposed Wall cooperating with the angularly disposed finger on the slide to shift the slide and thereby render the locking member ineffective.

' l1. In a permutation type lock, the combination of Ya casing; a cover forming a part of said casing; a locking member movable into effective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a slide carried by the casing, movable into eiective and ineifective positions; a permutation type controlling mechanism for conditioning the slide carried by the casing; and a support for said controlling; mechanism on said cover.

12. In a keyless padlock, the combination of a substantially rectangular casing having side Walls and a top Wall; a shackle, having a pair of no-tches, mounted for reciprocative and rotative movement in said casing into effective and ineffective positions; a permutation type controlling mechanism adapted to cooperate with one of the notches and hold the shackle in the effective position; and a compression spring having two legs, one leg engaging a side Wall of the casing and the other underlying the top Wall and entering a notch in the shackle, adapted to eject the shackle from the eiective to the ineffective position upon release of the shackle by the controlling mechanism. l

13. In a keyless padlock, the combination of a casing; a shackle, having a pair of notches mounted for re'ciprocativeA and rotative movement in said casing into effective and ineffective positions; a permutation type controlling mechanism adapted to cooperate With one of the notches and hold the shackle in the effective position; and a spring engaging a notch in said shackle, adapted to eject the shackle from the eiective position and to limit movement thereof into the ineffective position.

14. In a keyless lock, the combination of a rectangular casing; a locking member having effective and ineffective positions relative to the casing; a permutation type controlling mechanism obliquely disposed in said casing and adaptedto hold the locking member in the effective position, having retracted and advanced positions; a main shaft in said controlling mechanism; and a knob on said shaft projecting through an aperture in a corner of the casing for manually moving said controlling mechanism from the retracted to the advanced position.

I-IYMAN R. SEG-AL. 

